Family: Asteraceae
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Able to grow in tropical climates
- Widely naturalized, including on Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii
- A disturbance-adapted weed
- Other Senecio species are invasive
- Can be toxic to animals if consumed in large quantities
- Alternate host of Plum pox virus (PPV)
- Can form dense cover as an early successional plant
- Reproduces by seeds
- Hybridizes with Senecio viscosus
- Self-fertile
- Annual growth habit
- Seeds dispersed by wind, and accidentally due to human activities
- Pappus can stick to people, shoes, clothing, vehicles, or machinery, especially when wet
- Prolific seed production
- Seeds may persist in the soil
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Palatable to sheep and goats, but toxic to others
- Shade-intolerant
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Herbicides may provide effective control